Parnon
Encyclopedia
Parnon or Parnonas or Malevo (Μάλεβο) is a mountain range, or massif, on the east of the Laconia
n plain and the Evrotas
valley. It is visible from Athens
above the top of the Argive mountains. The western part is in the Laconia
prefecture and the northeastern part is in the Arcadia
prefecture. The Parnon range separates Laconia
from Arcadia
. Its summit offers panoramic views of southeastern Arcadia
and South Kynouria
and much of Laconia
that includes the northern and the central portions and reaches as far as the Taygetos mountains. It also views a part of the central Arcadia
and the southern Argolis
prefectures. It views the Myrtoan and the Laconian Gulf
s.
, eastern Arcadia
, southeast to Platanaki Pass. Platanaki, ancient Glyppia, is on the ancient route from Therapnes
to South Kynouria
between the peaks of Parnon, 1935 metres (6,348.4 ft), and Psaris, 1836 m (6,023.6 ft). Altitudes on the north rise from 1100 m (3,608.9 ft) to 1300 m (4,265.1 ft) increasing toward the peak to 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) to 1800 m (5,905.5 ft) with a tree line at 1750 m (5,741.5 ft). Below it are forests of Black Pine and fir; above it, grasslands.
Between the pass and Kounouria to the south is 22 km (13.7 mi) of central Parnon, lower in altitude than the northern. The remaining 38 km (23.6 mi), even lower in altitude but still mountainous, runs from Kounouria to the sea at Epidaurus Limera, which is in Monemvasia
. Parnon proper does not extend into the Malea Peninsula.
In addition to the range of Parnon, two forelands can also be defined, east and west. Kynouria is located in the east foreland. In the west two lengths can be distinguished: from the northern flank of Parnon to Gkoritsa in Therapnes
(on the road to Platanaki Pass), which is 6 km (3.7 mi) to 15 km (9.3 mi), and southward into the Malea Peninsula, 3 km (1.9 mi) to 9 km (5.6 mi) wide.
. The Mountain is home to the fifth deepest cave
in Greece
, the Peleta Sinkhole (depth as of 2006 is -543 m) and the impressive Vertical cave Propantes
(-360m).
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
n plain and the Evrotas
Eurotas
In Greek mythology, Eurotas was a son of Myles and grandson of Lelex, eponymous ancestor of the Leleges, the pre-Greek people residing, in the myth, in the Eurotas Valley. He had no male heir, but he did have a daughter, Sparta. Eurotas bequeathed the kingdom to her husband, Lacedaemon, the son of...
valley. It is visible from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
above the top of the Argive mountains. The western part is in the Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
prefecture and the northeastern part is in the Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
prefecture. The Parnon range separates Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
from Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
. Its summit offers panoramic views of southeastern Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
and South Kynouria
South Kynouria
South Kynouria is a municipality in the Arcadia peripheral unit, Peloponnese Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Leonidio...
and much of Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
that includes the northern and the central portions and reaches as far as the Taygetos mountains. It also views a part of the central Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
and the southern Argolis
Argolis
Argolis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.-Geography:...
prefectures. It views the Myrtoan and the Laconian Gulf
Laconian Gulf
The Laconian Gulf , is a gulf in the south-eastern Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the southernmost gulf in Greece and the largest in the Peloponnese. In the shape of an inverted "U", it is approximately 58 km wide east-west, and 44 km long north-south...
s.
Physical
The Parnon Massif is divided into three parts. The northernmost, which is the highest, runs 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from just north of Doliana in North KynouriaNorth Kynouria
North Kynouria or Vóreia Kynouría is a municipality in Arcadia, Greece. It is located in the eastern part of the peripheral unit, between the northwestern shores of the Argolic Gulf and northern Laconia. Its land area is 576.981 km². Its population is 12,825 . The seat of the municipality is in...
, eastern Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, southeast to Platanaki Pass. Platanaki, ancient Glyppia, is on the ancient route from Therapnes
Therapnes
Therapnes , in ancient times Therapne , is a Municipal Unit of the municipality of Sparti within the Regional Unit of Lakonia in the Region of Peloponnēsos, one of 7 Regions into which the Hellenic Republic has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, authorized by Law 3852, Issue 1 of 7 June 2010...
to South Kynouria
South Kynouria
South Kynouria is a municipality in the Arcadia peripheral unit, Peloponnese Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Leonidio...
between the peaks of Parnon, 1935 metres (6,348.4 ft), and Psaris, 1836 m (6,023.6 ft). Altitudes on the north rise from 1100 m (3,608.9 ft) to 1300 m (4,265.1 ft) increasing toward the peak to 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) to 1800 m (5,905.5 ft) with a tree line at 1750 m (5,741.5 ft). Below it are forests of Black Pine and fir; above it, grasslands.
Between the pass and Kounouria to the south is 22 km (13.7 mi) of central Parnon, lower in altitude than the northern. The remaining 38 km (23.6 mi), even lower in altitude but still mountainous, runs from Kounouria to the sea at Epidaurus Limera, which is in Monemvasia
Monemvasia
Monemvasia is a town and a municipality in Laconia, Greece. The town is located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the Peloponnese. The peninsula is linked to the mainland by a short causeway 200m in length. Its area consists mostly of a large plateau some 100 metres above sea level, up to...
. Parnon proper does not extend into the Malea Peninsula.
In addition to the range of Parnon, two forelands can also be defined, east and west. Kynouria is located in the east foreland. In the west two lengths can be distinguished: from the northern flank of Parnon to Gkoritsa in Therapnes
Therapnes
Therapnes , in ancient times Therapne , is a Municipal Unit of the municipality of Sparti within the Regional Unit of Lakonia in the Region of Peloponnēsos, one of 7 Regions into which the Hellenic Republic has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, authorized by Law 3852, Issue 1 of 7 June 2010...
(on the road to Platanaki Pass), which is 6 km (3.7 mi) to 15 km (9.3 mi), and southward into the Malea Peninsula, 3 km (1.9 mi) to 9 km (5.6 mi) wide.
Political
The nearest places are:- Kastanitsa, northeast
- Agios Vasileios, east
- Platanaki, east
- Palaiochori, east
- KosmasKosmas, GreeceKosmas is a village and a former community in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 591...
, southeast - Geraki, south
- Kallithea, southwest
- Vamvakou, west
Geology
The Parnon range is predominantly limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. The Mountain is home to the fifth deepest cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the Peleta Sinkhole (depth as of 2006 is -543 m) and the impressive Vertical cave Propantes
Propantes
Propantes is a pothole on the mountain of Parnon within the borders of the Paliochori community of the Municipality of Leonidio in Greece. The entrance is about three by seven meters wide. The entrance shaft drops to -289m without the need for a re-belay, making it the deepest daylight shaft in...
(-360m).